Sanchin/punching/conditioning

Ok I'm not 100% sure as to where this should be placed, but anyways...

I have studied Isshinryu for quite some time. One of the last kata's learned is sanchin, which I have always looked at as a primarily a conditioning/breathing kata since the breathing is emphasized, you tense up every muscle, often have someone striking you to test your stancework/how well you can take a punch all why doing the movements very slow and laboured. Basically I looked at it purely from an external MA standpoint.

As a result of an increased interest in bodymechanics and doing a lot of body conditioning exercises, I have tried doing shieldwork punching two different ways. A regular punch, and a punch with the same orientation as the arm in sanchin and found the sanchin punch to be more penetrating, it feels as though the triceps are a bit more tensed as a result on impact. I also noticed that the body mechanics were a bit similiar to what Upyu posted in his frontpage article on bodymechanics.

How does a sanchin punch differ from a cross or traditional chmbered karate punch?

When I punch, chambered or not, there is no real rotation of the fist/forearm/elbow.

With the sanchin type punch, the orientation of the elbow is different. Typically when I punch the elblow crease (the mark on your arm between your forearm and bicep meet and bend) is on an angle, maybe 30 degrees or so. Doing it sanchin style you have to rotate the elbow a bit inwards so the that elbow goes more to the center of the chest and the elbow crease in your arm is parallel to the floor. As a result you will feel more tension in the shoulder and tricep.

My guess is that this increased tension reinforces the arm upon contact, so more of the inpact goes into your target. Now, I do have some concerns punching this way, but they may be amelorated by practice. For example, i wonder if this sort of punch increases stress on the elbow. I am also unsure if punching like this is slower due to increased tension in the muscles. Perhaps the best way is to rotate it at the last second?

I seriously doubt Im the first person to play around with this. I'm just looking for feedback from other people.

If my digital camera hadn't been stolen I would take some pictures to illustrate the orientation.

Originally Posted by Doctor X

We are, indeed, t3h d34dly.

--J.D.

Hehe, well I didn't quite understand the emphasis on sanchin by you guys, but it is making more and more sense. I just wish someone had explained it to me with this viewpoint instead of figuring it out for myself.